Tips for How to Create a Resume

The purpose of a resume is to help you get an interview. A resume is the first introduction an employer has to you. In fact, employers will probably spend less than 30 seconds looking at your resume, and they interview only the strongest candidates.

As you create your resume, help the employer see that you can do the job and that you will contribute to the success of their company. Here are some tips to help create a resume that will catch the attention of employers.

What Are the Main Parts of a Resume?

Resumes look different for each person depending on their experience, but every resume typically has the same components.

Header. This includes your name, your address, phone number, and email. If you have a LinkedIn profile, include a link to your profile in the header as well.
Education. List your highest level of education first, including the name of the school, degree, major (and minor, if applicable), and date of graduation (or anticipated date). If your GPA is above a 3.0, include that as well as any other academic honors or relevant projects and coursework. If you don’t have an education or just graduated high school, you can show your in-progress education, highlight ongoing training or credentials/achievements you have earned, or place emphasis on practical skills and work experience.
Experience. In this section, write down your previous job experience, listing your most recent experience first. If you have a lot of previous job experience, you do not need to include everything, only the job experiences most relevant to the position you are applying for. For each of these experiences, list the job title, name of the organization, location, date, and duties. Start each duty with an action verb and keep it short.
List your skills. Be sure not to focus on only technical skills but also including your soft skills.

In addition to these resume components, you may also consider including awards and achievements, certificates, hobbies and skills, volunteer work, and language skills. If you do not have a lot of previous work experience, these other sections can be a great way to enhance your resume.

What Should a Resume Look Like?

Resumes are typically condensed to fit on one page to make it easy for employers to read. Your resume should also be grouped by sections with clear formatting for easy scanning. Consider looking at existing resume examples online to know what your resume should look like, especially for the specific field you are targeting.

There is more than one type of resume format, and the format you use depends on what you would like to emphasize in your resume: your skills, your objective, or your past work experience. Click on each type of resume below to learn what they are and when you would use them.

Targeted Resume

A targeted resume focuses on a particular objective within a specific industry or company. It highlights skills, qualifications, and experience matching a position’s requirements.

This format is most effective when you know the specifics about the position or company.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume shows the progression of your career, from entry-level to senior-level jobs. Hiring managers prefer employment information with the most recent job listed first. Many employers want to know details about where you have worked in the past, including dates.

This format is most appropriate if:

You have a solid career history within the same area with no major gaps.
Each career change has brought you increased responsibilities.
You have had high-profile job roles.
Your recent jobs are the most important in your career history.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume shows the progression of your career, from entry-level to senior-level jobs. Hiring managers prefer employment information with the most recent job listed first. Many employers want to know details about where you have worked in the past, including dates.

This format is most appropriate if:

You have a solid career history within the same area with no major gaps.
Each career change has brought you increased responsibilities.
You have had high-profile job roles.
Your recent jobs are the most important in your career history.

Functional (Skills) Resume

A functional resume emphasizes your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications rather than when and where you used them. It focuses on the skills relevant to the current job search and groups them by function.

This format is best for graduating students with little “real-world” experience, those who have been out of the workforce for long periods of time, and job seekers who are changing from one career or industry to another.

Functional (Skills) Resume

A functional resume emphasizes your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications rather than when and where you used them. It focuses on the skills relevant to the current job search and groups them by function.

This format is best for graduating students with little “real-world” experience, those who have been out of the workforce for long periods of time, and job seekers who are changing from one career or industry to another.

Combination Resume

A combination resume combines the functional and chronological formats. It lists your achievements and skills and then your job history.

A combination format is the best choice if:

You have performed a diverse or unique range of job functions, and you need to showcase your abilities.
You have a definite career path.
You have targeted a job that is related to your job history and experience.

You will want to use a different format if your work experience is limited, if you have several or unexplained employment gaps, or if you have changed jobs frequently.

Combination Resume

A combination resume combines the functional and chronological formats. It lists your achievements and skills and then your job history.

A combination format is the best choice if:

You have performed a diverse or unique range of job functions, and you need to showcase your abilities.
You have a definite career path.
You have targeted a job that is related to your job history and experience.

You will want to use a different format if your work experience is limited, if you have several or unexplained employment gaps, or if you have changed jobs frequently.

Inventory Resume

An inventory resume presents a general overview of your skills, achievements, and qualifications. If it states an objective or career path, it uses general terms (such as “a secretary working with a local company,” “a computer programmer,” or “a salesperson”), though it should still be consistent with your career goals.

This format is most effective if you:

Plan to send your resume to various recruiters.
Do not have a specific job objective.
Need to submit your resume for many positions in order to save time.
Need to compose different resumes that correspond to a different career objective.

If you are interested in several careers, write several inventory resumes, each for a particular career goal.

Note: Use caution when using the inventory format. This is not the most effective method but may be appropriate for some. Consult with your ward or stake employment specialist or an employment adviser to determine if it is right for you.